General News
March 16, 2009 - Saadiyat Island - Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC), Abu Dhabi UAE
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Saadiyat Island marks major milestones in 2009 TDIC has achieved significant progress on all of its current developments on the 27-square kilometre island situated offshore the UAE capital which is being transformed into a signature leisure, residential and cultural destination. |
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Saadiyat Island marks major milestones in 2009
TDIC has achieved significant progress on all of its current developments on the 27-square kilometre island situated offshore the UAE capital which is being transformed into a signature leisure, residential and cultural destination. The 1.4-kilometre 10-lane Saadiyat Bridge, currently one of Abu Dhabi's largest infrastructure projects, is well on track with 80% of works completed. This emerging landmark will officially open in September of this year to provide public access from Abu Dhabi city onto Saadiyat Island. By mid-April 2009, only one lane will be connected for the first time from Abu Dhabi to Saadiyat and only onsite construction vehicles will be able to access the new bridge. 'This year TDIC has an intensive schedule of infrastructure milestones, groundbreaking ceremonies and launches, which sends a strong signal to local and international investors and partners that TDIC is firmly committed to achieving its long-term plans. We are working very closely with Abu Dhabi's government to fulfil the emirate's 2030 strategy and deliver a distinctive destination that will support the aim of attracting nearly 2.7 million tourists to the capital by 2012,' said Lee Tabler, Chief Executive Officer of TDIC. Named as one of the world's top 10 emerging destinations by The Wall Street Journal, Saadiyat Island attributes its outstanding status to its well planned infrastructure, which is being efficiently executed according to schedule. The Saadiyat Link, a 6.5-kilometre 10-lane highway stretching across the island, is already two-thirds completed. When the Link is fully constructed in September 2009, it will connect the western part of the island to Saadiyat Bridge and the north-eastern part will be linked to the Abu Dhabi-Dubai highway making it an easy 15-minute drive to Abu Dhabi Airport. The Saadiyat Bridge and Link are only part of the arterial roadway network under development on the island. Other roadwork projects include seven additional bridges and three tunnels which are now halfway completed. Part of the project works is a 10.7-kilometre long storm water drainage which is 60% complete and a 22.3-kilometre long sewerage system, 75% already constructed. A 30-kilometre potable water network with a ground storage tank and pump station, various mechanical and electrical works and all the utilities required to service Saadiyat Link and Saadiyat Beach District, including all hotels, residential developments and roads systems, are nearly halfway to completion. 'Works on water and electricity on Saadiyat Island are significantly progressed with some elements of these developments nearing completion. All utility works for the development areas will be completed by December 2009 such as the main reservoir which is large enough to supply potable water throughout the island for five whole days,' said Andrew Seymour, TDIC's Director of Infrastructure. A set of twin 1200mm diameter water pipes stretching from the Abu Dhabi mainland to the island have already been tunnelled under the Abu Dhabi Channel, while the main 1600mm diameter transmission water pipe is currently being assembled across the island and will be finished in May 2009. On the southern tip of Saadiyat Island, a 400kV grid station is 85% complete and will be commissioned by June this year. Meanwhile the four 132kV substations that distribute power to the various districts around Saadiyat, are all well underway with phased handovers and commissioning expected by September 2009. TDIC is also advancing with the construction of exclusive villas which are a signature development in phase one of Saadiyat Beach Residences community. A range of three- to eight-bedroom villas, some featuring a private gymnasium, elevator, swimming pool and movie theatre, are on schedule for handover in the second quarter of 2011. Work is also progressing on the Arabian Gulf's only seaside Saadiyat Beach Golf Course. On schedule to open in September 2009, the 72-par course is designed by golfing legend Gary Player. The shaping of the 18 holes is complete and grassing of the final holes is now underway. Construction of the Academy clubhouse has also commenced. Also, the main piling work has been completed on Starwood's first luxury St. Regis Hotel & Residences in the UAE. This is one of a number of high-end resorts planned for nine kilometres of shoreline on Saadiyat Island. Much anticipated highlight in the island's development will be the museum groundbreakings in Saadiyat Island's iconic Cultural District, which combines the world's largest single concentration of premier cultural institutions. Preparation for the building platforms on which the museums will sit is almost complete after which foundation work will begin. A rock bund, placed around the perimeter of where the Louvre Abu Dhabi will be erected, is two-thirds complete and is scheduled to be fully constructed by May 2009 when a groundbreaking ceremony will mark the event. Groundbreakings of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Museum and the Sheikh Zayed National Museum are scheduled for the third quarter of this year. Saadiyat's Construction Village, which can accommodate up to 20,000 workers, will be completed by the end of July 2009, with an early release of 5000 beds by May. Master-planned by Singapore's award-winning Surbana Corporation, Construction Village covers 40 hectares with enough room for expansion to accommodate 40,000 if required. |
